5409

It was bound to happen eventually, Gadget Freak runs in the family. Nintendo often lists the refurb WiiU deluxe for $200, should you care to join that particular club. Might be worthwhile, it looks like all three major platforms this gen will be having a slower pace of major releases.

Dead Rising 3 is definitely on the list, and sounds different enough to break my “don’t buy #3 if you didn’t play #2” rule. Sim-racers like Forza, not so eager, waiting for Horizon. I’ve heard good things about the golf game, but I’ve tried and failed to like every last golf game I’ve played, with the exception of mini-golf (which I’m sure doesn’t count).

On PS4, bought Killzone for $40 and probably should have waited. Sure is pretty, though. Second Son, Wolfenstein, and even Thief were far more popular.

Anyway, hopefully set for the next 5 years.

5410

You guys don’t make it easy to take a “wait and see” approach. But I still have quite a few last gen games I want to work through, so I’ll just have to stifle my own gadget hound tendencies for a bit longer.

5411

The 360 controller is still my favorite. Even after months of using them I don’t like the enlarged bumpers on the Xbox One. It is really easy to hit them when you don’t mean to and combined with bad UI decisions in some games like Titanfall this means I occasionally launch apps I don’t mean to launch mid-game, which sucks especially because said app launching is slow and laggy and means everything is fucked for me for about 5 seconds (quite a long time when playing a multiplayer FPS) when this happens. Also my two One controllers have much looser analog stick play than my PS4 DS4s or even my old worn 360 controllers.

  • It’s an ugly box. Some may like it, I think it looks thrown together and lacks cohesion.

Yup, ugly and big (even when you kind of know how big it is, pulling it out of the box and seeing it is still kind of surreal) and boxy.

  • Interface is decent, reasonably ad-free, like the use of screenshots to show recent activity.

Reasonably ad-free, but pretty slow IMO. Feels overall much laggier than the PS4 or Wii U interfaces for me.

  • Handles multiple users well, 2 of the 3 boys are already signed in and playing Sniper Elite 3 without a hitch. Might even switch the Destiny pre-order over to the Xbone so they can play online unlike the PS4.

Couldn’t disagree more strongly, though maybe you’re just too new to the system to have been rage-inducingly frustrated by all the small problems you will soon suffer through. The Xbox One party system sucks compared to the 360 and has lots of game-specific issues, which wasn’t a thing on the Xbox 360 where the party system was kept separate from the game. Example: Bug in Destiny beta breaks party chat if you bring up the party up and then unsnap it; and then you can’t hear anyone in your party unless you keep the party app snapped the entire time. Other games introduce less severe but annoying bugs in party chat; have various small issues with Titanfall as well.

Also, related but not quite to do with party chat: some games don’t even have a real lobby system. PvZ: Garden Warfare is worth getting for sure but the lack of any kind of meaningful lobby-up system makes partying up with friends ridiculously unintuitive and prone to problems.

Titanfall has issues of its own where even private lobbies time out after a minute or two making it sometimes difficult to get a team of 6 ready to go before the server drops you all.

Can’t believe Microsoft doesn’t enforce better standards for this considering how buttery smooth party play was on the 360.

5412

FWIW, I loved the concepts behind the first couple of Dead Rising games, but not so much the implementation, so never played more than a couple of hours of those. Dead Rising 3, on the other hand, is a much more entertaining and fluid and game (IMHO) and I’ve really enjoyed it. So many zombies! Plus when you finish, there’s the insane Super Ultra Dead Rising 3 Remix “Capcom LSD trip” DLC.

I’ve heard good things about the golf game, but I’ve tried and failed to like every last golf game I’ve played, with the exception of mini-golf (which I’m sure doesn’t count).

Actually, PowerStar Golf is a casual golf game, so it’s kind of in between Tiger Woods and Mini-Golf. But even better, they’ve gone Free to Play with it – you can download it for free, and then if you like it, download the full course/player/etc set.

5413

Wait, what? Not all online features are behind the gold paywall these days but I’m pretty sure multiplayer still requires Gold these days. Is that not true?

5414

On Xbone, you only need one Gold account tied to the system for anyone whose account is on that system to play online. The thing I’m confused about is, I’m pretty sure PS+ on PS4 works the same way.

5415

Denny - is your job OK during this re-org? Praying you and Lamin8tor are OK.

5416

Thanks, I’m OK

5417

Both systems require premium tier subscriptions for online play. There is an asterisk on the PS4 where free-to-play games need not obey that restriction.

5418

Del, I ended up getting a PS4 and a XB1 for the kids back at Xmas. I did the same thing last gen, (And they had a Wi and I got em a WiiU this time as well – and the Wi didn’t get used and the WiiU doesn’t either… Nintendo sucks!)

For myself, as I always seemed to get drummed out of the Living Room, I retreated to the man cave and ultimately got myself my own 360 and PS3. Never regretted it. Best thing I ever did. I waited so long to do this last time that I got them both used for cheap. But I’m not going to deny myself the benefits of having both of my own (and all to myself) this time. So I’m just going to get them both now and be done with it so I can enjoy the next 6-8 years of releases.

I ordered a PS4 today and I will get an XB1 for the man cave as well in a week or two. I found there were two main advantages to this last gen:

1 - I no longer worried about exclusives. I want a game, I get the game no matter what system its exclusive to; and

2- I get WAY more used games this way. I have twice the selection to choose from at Gamerama, which means I have a comparatively HUGE game selection even when matched up against much of the hardcore here at Qt3 (or my kids do, more properly stated, which I pull from as needed). It’s quite rare that I buy a new game, but I buy used ones one or two a week for $10-20-30 a piece. When I have a choice of both platforms to choose from, I go PS3 usually (but it depends). Otherwise, I just take what’s available. And with two consoles to choose from, any used game you want is pretty much ALWAYS available unless it is an exclusive and in the first month after release.

Really, the money saved and selection of used games available to choose from when you can pick from all sides of the console wars is difficult to overstate. It’s a no brainer for me.

If you are still at Sunnybrook, I urge you to do your used game shopping at Gamerama (2350 Yonge, north of Yonge/Eg). The selection and price is vastly better than at any EBGames (half to less than half EB’s used price). And once the staff there get to know you, they will put used stuff aside for you if you ask nicely.

Which leads me to the odd observation that there are a lot more used XB1 games to buy than used PS4 games. Which seems counter-intuitive but there you go. Don’t get me wrong, the used game selection for next gen is still very small right now, but the titles available are significantly larger on the XB1 side.

Moral of the Story: Buy that PS4 and enjoy it and your XB1, too. You don’t need to pick a “side”. “Sides” are for suckers. You won’t regret it.

5419

Thanks, Jeff, I’m okay. :)

5420

I love the Gamerama guys. Been going to them for almost 15 years.

5421

You misunderstand. I’m well aware of the paid requirement for online play; I’m referring to requiring separate paid subscriptions for each player on a single console, which was the case on 360, but isn’t on Xbone (and, I believe, PS4, which is where my confusion comes from, as RickH seems to be indicating that’s not the case).

5422

You’re right. That’s how it works on PS4 as well. As long as the PS4 is designated the PS+ account holder’s primary system anyone who logs in on that physical machine gets the multiplayer benefits.

5423

No one but me could play the Destiny beta or Killzone online. The boys told me when they tried to go online, they were told they could not proceed and needed a PS+ account to play online.

EDIT: but from reading the above, perhaps I need to investigate further.

5424

They announced August’s free Gold games.

360:
August 1 - Motocross Madness
August 16 - Dishonored

XB1:
Crimson Dragon
Strike Suit Zero

Cool. The only game I own out of those four is Dishonored. And that one only on PC.

5425

Excellent. Had my eye on Strike Suit Zero. Glad I didn’t buy it. That might become a theme across XBO and PS4. Little incentive to pick up indie games on release unless they’re definite Must Have Now titles, as they may well turn up as Gold/PS+ titles.

5426

EA Access. Unlimited play of a select library of EA games, including Madden and BF4 to start, and 10% discount on all EA digital purchases on Xbone.

$30 per year is actually quite attractive, depending on the available titles. If it includes new releases it’s an absolute steal.

Edit: If you can’t wait to play unlimited Madden and didn’t get in the beta, sign up here for later consideration.

5427

Yeah, I don’t think I’d get my money’s worth just because of the games they’re pushing right now, but for a lot of people I think that’d be a good bargain. Do we know if this is totally Xbox exclusive, or if that’s just where it’s launching?

5428

They’re only announcing Xbone for now, but I imagine PS4 is in the cards unless MS negotiated an exclusive arrangement.